San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-02-05

The capture OF the redoubtable Apache
| chief Mangus, on the 18th of October,
by Captain Charles L. Cooper of the
Tenth Cavalry, was the most important
achievement of the late Indian campaign,
after the bringing in of Geronimo him
self. The young officer was warmly
congratulated upon his exploit by Gen
eral Miles; and the latter's Adjutant-ge
eral. Colonel Barber, abiding to the
capture, pronounced it the most COM
plete and thorough military achievement
in the entire campaign.
The details of the pursuit and capture
of Mangus, as given in the official report,
illustrate what campaigning in the
Apache country means. On the 14th of
October, Captain Cooper started from
Fort Apache, Arizona. with twenty en-
listed men of Troop III, Tenth Cavalry
On the evening of the 18th he struck the
trail Of the Indians. After following
this trail, the next day, over thirty miles
Of indescribably rough country, he sight
ed the fugitives. They were Just going
over the top of steep mountain, 1000
feet high, as the soldiers reached the
base. Captain Cooper gave furious pur-
suit, not only over the first mountain,
but over five others equally formidable
After chase of fifteen miles, the Indians
abandoned their stock and sought hid
ing-places. All were hunted out save
three, and these surrendered during the
night. The captures consisted of Chief
Mangus and two bucks, three squaws,
two boys capable of bearing arms, one
girl, and four children; also twenty nine
mules, five ponies, and the entire camp
outfit.
Chief Mangus is now in Florida, with
Geronimo, Natchez, and the rest of the
Apache captives. His desperate attempt
to escape, while on the way there, will
be remembered, and serves as an illus
traton of his character. In recent let
ter, Captain Cooper writes: II was alone
in Mangus's camp, with but one man, for
nearly two hours, and he had cartridge
in his rifle with which to kill me should
an opportunity present itself"
Captain Charles L. Cooper is native
of New York city, where he was born in
March, 1915. On the breaking out of
theWar for the Union, when the Seven
ty-tirst New York was sent for immedi-
ate defense of Washington, he, being but
sixteen years of age, enlisted, served and
returned home, hOnorably discharged.
Visiting with friends at POughkeepsie,
he again enlisted for three months, ser
vice in the Twenty-frst Regiment, n G.
5. n. Y, of that city, and returned to
the field. When twenty years of age, by
promotion, he became First-lieutcnant,
One Hundred and Twenty Regi-
ment, United States COlOred Troops.
This regiment being part of the division
commanded by General William Birney,
did gallant service and established rec
ord for good fighting qualities. Here
General Birney's attention was attracted
by the energy and pluck of the young
officer. He sent for him, and soon after
selected him as a member of his staff.
In this capacity he served with distinc-
ton, and showed much native soldierly
grit. When the closing battles of the
war were fought before Petersburg, he
resumed his place in his regiment,
and participated with his men in the
bloody work which preceded the final
victory of our army. On being muster
ed out of service, he resumed his mill
tary studies, and through the interest
taken in him, and knowledge of his
bravery and soldierly qualities during
the whole war by General John A. Dix,
Thurlow Weed, A. A. Low, and other
representative men, he was appointed
Secondlieutenant in the United States
Regular Army, and assigned to duty in
the Thirty ninth Regiment, United States
Infantry. He was promoted, October
9th, 1867, to the grade of First-lieuten-
ant. In January, 1871, he was assigned
to the Tenth United States Cavalry Ser
vice, where he has since remained, hav-
ing meantime been promoted to Cap
taincy.